Make Mine a Double

posted by Arty on Mar 19

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If you’ve got a special occasion the next day but you still want to go on a night out and not feel rubbish in the morning, why not still go, have fun, but drink non-alcoholic cocktails?! This is a great way to get some of your five a day, as long as you get real fruit juice in the cocktails you can knock a couple of your five a day off the list for starters and gain valuable vitamins and minerals. There are loads of different juices you can get, try pineapple, orange, mango and apple juice with some fizzy water and pureed raspberries. Ask around the bars, it’s not what you’d usually do but you’ll be surprised how many of them will whip you up a delicious and hydrating drink for a decent price and without the possibility of a headache the next day!

posted by Hilary on Jul 20

Does the idea of having your 5 a day whilst incorporating a quick bevies sound very appealing. I do have to ask the question why Tesco and Sainsbury don’t seem to have many idea or banners around the fruit and veg isle to support the fact that booze and berries are good
Well to be serious have you even tried vodka Water melon? It’s so easy and such good fun for BBQ or picnic.
Basically drill a small hole with a corkscrew into the flesh and place a small funnel. Over the course of the next 6 hours pour in a bottle of Vodka preferable a flavored type. The key is being too consistent. You don’t have to stand cover the fruit for 6 hours use every time you remember. The liquid won’t automatically pour in it needs to filter through, hence why you need a funnel
Once completed put the fruit in the freezer or fridge consumer 24 hours later, not longer or will go to mush. Ideally eat in slices as you would do with watermelon or you can much up and have in a cocktail or with lemonade… It’s gorgeous!

posted by Hilary on Jul 20

Now I don’t usually do this but I have to write about a gorgeous non Alcohlic drink I sampled at a wedding this week.

Usually when you say your not drinking you get fobbed off with some oragne juice and or sparkling water. Yo feel very out place or seen as not having fun. But this actually looked and tasted nearly as special as Champers and it definitely looked very exciting

Its called Kiwi Collins. When you pour it the green Kiwi juice doesn’t mix and sits in the middle of the liquid. Very importaint serve in Champagne flute

KIWI COLLINS
3 oz kiwi juice
1/3 lemonade
1/3 Sprite
ice (shake)

or try

KIWI MARGARITA
1/2 kiwi juice / 1/2 limeade
ice (shake) / rocks

posted by Hilary on Jul 16

Well in honour of the beautiful wedding of a dear friend of mine this  the weekend got  me thinking about what lovely cocktails that I can think of for the bride to be

Everyone typically thinks of champagne and kira royal but to me this is a cop out so what else is there

I found this fab on called something blue seriouly its not quite as bright as a blue wicked and definitely more classy
Ingredients:

* 2 oz Hpnotiq
* 2 oz white wine
* 1 oz ginger ale

Preparation:

1. Build the ingredients in a Champagne flute.
2. Serve and toast to a long and happy marria

posted by Hilary on May 5

Well in honour of my girly friend that i went out with yesterday i just have to write about a fabulous cocktail i had . God it was gorgeous

The delight was served up for me in Grill on the Alley in Manchester

Located off  Deansgate this restaurant epitomises old and new Manchester, hidden away.

I had the most fabulous cocktail ever Watermelon and Black Cherry Margarita. Because all the ingredients where possible was fresh it made such a difference

I have included a recipe that make more that one because seriously you want a bucket load of this stuff!!
Ingredients

Instructions Cut up a watermelon, removing seeds. Liquify in a blender until you have about 16 oz. Add remaining ingredients, top with ice and blend until smooth. Taste and add sugar if watermelon is not sweet enough. Serve in a margarita glass with a sugar-coated rim.

posted by Hilary on Apr 26

The Royle Family no not Buckingham palace crew but better Caroline Aherne was spotted in Harvey Nichols having lunch with David Walliams. Oh my god i was just in there. I must say tough they do have fab taste. I don’t think they were having the Nic special meal deal at the moment but I have to tell you . Harvey Nics have a really good offer at the mo £25 for three course meal plus unlimited wine - Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The cocktails are pretty gorgeous too maybe Ms.Aherne was slipping on a margarita. Well this brings me to an earlier post called marvellous margarita

On the Second Floor in the Nic’s Bar on Saturday 30 May they are holding - The Marvelous Margarita event it offers you the chance to mix and shake classic cocktails for £25 per person.

What do you think know of any other cocktail events out there?

posted by Hilary on Apr 26

Ive been trying to think up of some little delights to celebrate the London Marathon. Look brace yourself now I have gone off in a tangent a bit but bear with me

Well I thought well Marathon is based in a city .. city being London ..so when all else fails look to Sex in the City for inspiration mmmm sounded good at the time!

Come on if these were waiting for you at the finish line wouldn’t you run faster

Flirtini

• 1 shot Absolut
• 4 shots champagne
• 1 shot pineapple juice

Mix vodka and pineapple juice into champagne in glass and stir.

Tartini

• 1½ shots raspberry vodka
• ½ shot Chambord
• ½ shot cranberry juice
• ¾ shot lime juice

Shake all ingredients well with ice and fine strain in to a glass.

If i’d run 26 miles i would love these to welcome me home xx

posted by Hilary on Apr 15

Singapore Sling

I fancied an Eastern twist to my blog today and I looked towards the Singapore Sling,

It’s seems to be a common thread ruining through all the tails that the sling was born on the Long Bar of the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, at some point between 1900 and 1915. But one thing that is disputed or experimented with over the years is the recipe different ratios to what is mixed and some including pineapple juice, others not.

TO put the record straight however The Raffles Hotel publish a recipe card for the Sling

• 2 shots gin

• ½ shot Bénédictine

• ½ shot dry cherry brandy

• ½ shot lemon juice

• 2 dashes orange bitters

• 2 dashes Angostura bitters

Shake well with ice and strain in to a Sling glass. Top off with soda water.

posted by Hilary on Apr 14

Well is seems a long way till the next weekend so i have to keep going by the potential of bubbles by Fridays. So have gone a bit OTT on some Champagne treats

Champagne Charlie (no i do not mean bubbles with naughty nose sugar!)

The recipe is said to named after “Champagne Charlie” Mr Monsieur Charles-Camille Heidsieck. who launched the champagne brand bearing his name in 1851. This cocktail is basically Apricot Brandy topped up with champagne.

Disco Fizz

Dust off you Saturday night fever suite we’re ready to D.I.S.C.O. The reason it really cos it fruity and colourful. Made with Blue Curaçao, elderflower cordial, pineapple juice and lemon juice - topped up with champagne .

Kir Royale

Perhaps one of the best known cocktail recipes one shot of Crème de Cassis in a flute glass and then top up with the champagne for a subtle pink hue YES PLEASE

posted by Hilary on Apr 13

So carrying on the green theme and as i seem to be using a lot of creme de menthe i thought I’d explain abit more about it

It does sound rather odd a peppermint green liquid that contains alcohol its flavour actually come from Corsican mint.

It is available to by in two options colour less called “white” and a green version get the colour from mint leaves but i think it would be the drink it is without the colour

Recipe,, for making crème de menthe

• sugar,
• water,
• grain alcohol
• pure peppermint extract,
• optional green food coloring
• Mint leaves

Crush the mint leaves with ice and mix with balance ingredients

Alternative if the above is too much faff, get the bought stuff add and dollop of ice cream whizz together fro a fab milk shake with a kick!

Flying Grasshopper

• 3/4 oz creme de menthe (green)
• 3/4 oz creme de cacao (white)
• 3/4 oz vodka

Stir with ice and strain into cordial glass.